Bandwidth allocation and pricing system for downloadable media content

ABSTRACT

A recordable media content purchasing system comprising a memory, and a processor configured with the memory to download recordable media content at one of a plurality of various download times for purchase of the recordable media content.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates in general to the field of televisionsystems, and more particularly, to the field of interactive television.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] With the recent advent of digital transmission technology,subscriber network television systems are now capable of providing manyother services in addition to traditional analog broadcast video. Forexample, two-way and advanced one-way communications between asubscriber and a subscriber network system headend are now possible. Thehome communication terminal (“HCT”), also known as the set-top box, hasbecome an important computing device for accessing video services andnavigating a subscriber through a maze of services available. Inaddition to supporting traditional analog broadcast video andfunctionality, digital HCTs (or “DHCTs”) now also support an increasingnumber of enhanced video services that are made available throughdigital transmission technology.

[0003] Interactive television is an enhanced video technology enabled bytwo-way communication between a subscriber and a subscriber networksystem headend that is made possible by digital transmission technologyand consists of such enhanced services as video-on-demand (“VOD”). Inthe digital transmission infrastructure that is utilized for interactivetelevision, VOD service requires the exclusive or substantiallyexclusive use of bandwidth capacity, and thus, a portion of theinfrastructure serves as the VOD infrastructure. Multiple SystemOperators (“MSOs”) invests millions of dollars in the construction andmaintenance of VOD infrastructures to insure that there is sufficientbandwidth capacity available for VOD service. Thus, there is a need toefficiently utilize the VOD infrastructure to generate revenue.

[0004] There are other electronic communications systems that have beenused for the sale and delivery of audio, video, and other products thatcan be transmitted electronically. For example, one may be able topurchase an audio product on the Internet and then download it to apersonal computer for future use. The application of electroniccommunications systems for the sale and delivery of applicable productscan offer advantages over more conventional product sales and deliverysystems such as phone ordering with parcel delivery. For example,advantages may be offered such as the lower cost of product delivery orthe savings of not requiring inventory, floor space, and retailemployees. But, the present electronic communications sales and deliverysystems comprise restraints in transferring information. Thus, there isa need for flexibility in electronic communications systems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The preferred embodiment of the present invention may be viewedas, among other things, a recordable media content purchasing systemcomprising a memory, and a processor configured with the memory todownload recordable media content at one of a plurality of variousdownload times for purchase of the recordable media content.

[0006] Other advantages of the present invention will become apparent toone with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings anddetailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] The preferred embodiments of the invention can be betterunderstood with reference to the following drawings. The components inthe drawings are not necessarily to scale, and emphasis is instead beingplaced upon clearly illustrating the principles of the preferredembodiments of the invention. Moreover, in the drawings, like referencenumerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

[0008]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an example Digital Broadband DeliverySystem (DBDS), in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

[0009]FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of types of input and outputchannels to a DHCT supported by the example DBDS of FIG. 1, inaccordance with one embodiment of the invention.

[0010]FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the example headend depicted in FIG.1, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

[0011]FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the example DHCT depicted in FIG. 1,in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

[0012]FIG. 5 is a screen diagram of an example archive main screenillustrating the archiving features for a first downloaded movie, inaccordance with one embodiment of the invention.

[0013]FIG. 6 is a screen diagram of an example archive main screenillustrating the archiving features for downloaded music, in accordancewith one embodiment of the invention.

[0014]FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an example remote control device forproviding input to the DHCT depicted in FIG. 1, in accordance with oneembodiment of the invention.

[0015]FIG. 8 is a screen diagram of an example archive main screenresponsive to user input in the example archiving screen in FIG. 6, inaccordance with one embodiment of the invention.

[0016]FIG. 9 is a screen diagram of an example archive main screenillustrating the archiving features for a second downloaded movie, inaccordance with one embodiment of the invention.

[0017]FIG. 10 is a screen diagram of an example archive main screenresponsive to user input in the example archiving screen in FIG. 9, inaccordance with one embodiment of the invention.

[0018]FIG. 11 is a screen diagram of an example archive informationscreen invoked from the example archive main screen depicted in FIG. 10,in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

[0019]FIG. 12 is a screen diagram of an example archive edit screeninvoked from the example archive information screen depicted in FIG. 11,in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

[0020]FIG. 13 is a screen diagram of an example archive edit screenresulting from user input in the example archive edit screen depicted inFIG. 12, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

[0021]FIG. 14 is a screen diagram of an example archive search screeninvoked from the example archive edit screen depicted in FIG. 13, inaccordance with one embodiment of the invention.

[0022]FIG. 15 is a block diagram illustration of sub-schedules invokedby the head end depicted in FIG. 3 for allocating bandwidth fordownloading recordable media content, in accordance with one embodimentof the invention.

[0023]FIG. 16 is a block diagram illustration of the sub-schedule planfor implementing the sub-schedules depicted in FIG. 15 on a monthly,weekly, and daily basis, in accordance with one embodiment of theinvention.

[0024]FIG. 17 is a screen diagram of an example IPG screen for accessingpurchasable recordable media content, in accordance with one embodimentof the invention.

[0025]FIG. 18 is a screen diagram of an example IPG screen for accessinga service guide.

[0026]FIG. 19 is a screen diagram of an example service guide foraccessing purchasable recordable media content, in accordance with oneembodiment of the invention.

[0027]FIG. 20 is a screen diagram of an alternate embodiment of anexample service guide for providing notice to the user that purchasablerecordable media content is available, in accordance with one embodimentof the invention.

[0028]FIG. 21 is a screen diagram of an example video on demand catalogscreen for enabling a user to choose purchasable recordable mediacontent as part of a video on demand selection session, in accordancewith one embodiment of the invention.

[0029]FIG. 22 is a screen diagram of an example purchasing screen forpurchasable recordable media content as part of a video on demandselection session, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

[0030]FIG. 23 is a screen diagram of an example purchasing screen forpurchasable recordable media content, displaying a different downloadoption from the option presented in the example purchasing screen ofFIG. 22, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

[0031]FIG. 24 is a screen diagram of an example purchasing screen forpurchasable recordable media content, displaying a different contentquality option from the option presented in the example purchasingscreen of FIG. 23, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

[0032]FIG. 25 is a screen diagram of an example purchasing screen forpurchasable recordable media content, displaying a different downloadoption from the option presented in the example purchasing screen ofFIG. 24, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

[0033]FIG. 26 is a screen diagram of an example purchasing screen forpurchasable recordable media content, displaying a different downloadoption from the option presented in the example purchasing screen ofFIG. 25, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

[0034]FIG. 27 is a screen diagram of an example purchasing screen forpurchasable recordable media content, displaying a trial purchaseoption, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

[0035]FIG. 28 is a screen diagram of depicting an example PIN entrywindow that is presented to the user after the user selects a downloadand content quality selection in FIG. 26, in accordance with oneembodiment of the invention.

[0036]FIG. 29 is a screen diagram of an example screen display denyingthe user from purchasing content.

[0037]FIG. 30 is a screen diagram of an example acknowledgement screendisplay presented to the user upon confirming that a purchase isauthorized.

[0038]FIG. 31 is a screen diagram of an example screen display presentedto the user when a selected purchase is unavailable, in accordance withone embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0039] The preferred embodiments of the invention now will be describedmore fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, inwhich preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This inventionmay, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not beconstrued as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, theseembodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough andcomplete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to thosehaving ordinary skill in the art. Furthermore, all “examples” givenherein are intended to be non-limiting.

[0040] One preferred embodiment of the present invention is generallyimplemented as part of a subscriber network television system, such asfor a non-limiting example, a digital broadband delivery system (DBDS)or a cable television system (CTS). Hence, an illustrative DBDS and itsoperation will be described initially. Other conventional data deliverysystems are also included within the scope of the present invention.FIG. 1 shows a block diagram view of a DBDS 10, which is generally ahigh quality, reliable and integrated network system that is preferablycapable of delivering video, audio, voice and data services to clientdevices, such as a digital home communication terminal devices (DHCTs)16. Although FIG. 1 depicts a high level view of a DBDS 10, it should beappreciated that a plurality of DBDS systems can tie together aplurality of regional networks into an integrated global network so thatDHCT users can receive media content provided from anywhere in theworld.

[0041] The DBDS 10 preferably delivers broadcast video signals asdigitally formatted signals in addition to delivering traditionalbroadcast analog video signals. Furthermore, the system can preferablysupport one way broadcast services as well as both one-way data servicesand two-way media and data services. The two-way operation of thenetwork preferably allows for user interactivity with services, such asPay-Per-View programming, Near Video-On-Demand (NVOD) programmingaccording to any of several known NVOD implementation methods,View-on-Demand (VOD) programming (according to any of several VODimplementation methods), and interactive applications, such as Internetconnections.

[0042] The DBDS 10 also provides the interfaces, network control,transport control, session control, and servers to access media contentfrom media services, and distributes media content to DHCT users. Notethat the term media content will be understood to mean the contentstored and delivered throughout the DBDS 10, such as movies, software,music, etc. When it is helpful to discuss each individual movie orprogram, etc. (i.e. media content in the singular), the term mediacontent instance or the like will be used. The title of that mediacontent instance will be referred to as a media content title. As shownin FIG. 1, a typical DBDS 10 comprises a head end 11, hubs 12, an HFCaccess network 17, and DHCTs 16. It should be appreciated that althougha single component (e.g. a head end) is illustrated in FIG. 1, a DBDS 10can feature a plurality of any one of the illustrated components or maybe configured with alternative embodiments for any one of the individualcomponents or with yet other additional components not enumerated above.Media content provided by one or more content providers, such as contentprovider 5, is communicated by the content providers to one or more headends 11. From those head ends 11 the content is then communicated over acommunications network 18 that includes a plurality of HFC accessnetworks 17 (only one HFC access network 17 is illustrated). The HFCaccess network 17 preferably comprises a plurality of HFC nodes 13, eachof which may serve a local geographical area. The hub 12 connects to theHFC node 13 through a fiber portion of the HFC access network 17. TheHFC node 13 is connected to a tap 14 which, in one implementation, isconnected to a digital home communication terminal (DHCT) 16. In otherimplementations, the tap 14 is connected to a network interface unit(NIU) 15 which is connected to a digital home communication terminal(DHCT) 16. The NIU 15 is normally located at the property of a user andprovides a transparent interface between the HFC node 13 and the users'internal wiring. Coaxial cables are typically used to couple nodes 13,taps 14 and NIUs 15 because the electrical signals can be easilyrepeated with radio frequency (RF) amplifiers. As the high-leveloperations of many of the functions of a DBDS 10 are well known to thoseof skill in the art, further high level description of the overall DBDS10 of FIG. 1 will not be contained herein. It will be appreciated,however, that the DBDS 10 shown in FIG. 1 is merely illustrative andshould not be construed as implying any limitations upon the scope ofthe embodiments of the invention. For instance, subscriber networktelevision systems also included within the scope of the embodiments ofthe invention include systems not utilizing physical structured cablingfor transmission, such as, but not limited to, satellite systems.Further, transmission media included within the scope of the embodimentsof the invention include, but are not limited to, HFC, optical,satellite, RF, FM, and microwave. Further, data provided from the headend 11 to the DHCTs 16 and programming necessary to perform thefunctions discussed below will be understood to be present in the DBDS10, in accordance with the description below.

[0043]FIG. 2 shows one implementation of transmission channels supportedby the DBDS 10 illustrated in FIG. 1, as delivered by the head end 11and received as input channels by the DHCT 16.

[0044] Although one DHCT 16 and one head end 11 are illustrated, it isunderstood by those having ordinary skill in the art that more than oneof each may be included in a subscriber network television system. Asindicated in FIG. 2, the subscriber network television system cansimultaneously support a number of transport channel types andmodulation formats. The ability to carry analog and digital signals overa large bandwidth are characteristics of a hybrid fiber/coax (HFC)network typically employed in a subscriber network television system. Aswill be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art, analog anddigital signals in HFC networks can be multiplexed using, in oneimplementation, frequency division multiplexing (FDM), which enablesmany different types of signals to be transmitted over the subscribernetwork television system to the DHCT 16. In one typical implementation,a subscriber network television system using HFC supports downstream(i.e. in the direction from the head end 11 to the DHCT 16) frequenciesfrom 50 MHz to 870 MHz, whereas upstream frequencies (i.e. in thedirection from the DHCT to higher levels of the system) are in the 5 MHzto 42 MHz band. Generally, the RF channel bandwidth spacing for analogand digital services is 6 MHz. Furthermore, for a typical 870 MHz systemin the U.S., a possible downstream RF spectrum subdivision plan uses 6MHz spaced RF channels within the 50 MHz to 550 MHz band for analogvideo carriers and within the 550 MHz to 870 MHz range for digitalcarriers.

[0045] Referring again to FIG. 2, the downstream direction channels,having been multiplexed preferably using frequency division multiplexing(FDM), and often referred to as in band channels, include AnalogTransmission Channels (ATCs) 210 and Digital Transmission Channels(DTCs) 250.

[0046] These channels carry video, audio, and data services. Forexample, these channels can carry television signals, Internet data, orany additional types of data, such as Electronic Program Guide (EPG)data. The signals and data carried on these channels are providedthrough software, collectively referred to herein as services, asfurther defined below. The ATCs 210 are typically broadcast in 6 MHzchannels having an analog broadcast composed of analog video and analogaudio, and include Broadcast TV Systems Committee (BTSC) stereo andSecondary Audio Program (SAP) audio.

[0047] Like the ATCs 210, the DTCs 250 each occupy 6 MHz of the RFspectrum. However, the DTCs 250 are preferably digital channelsconsisting of 64- or 256-Quadrature Amplitude Modulated (QAM) digitalsignals formatted as MPEG-2 transport streams, allocated in a separatefrequency range. The MPEG-2 transport stream enables transmission of aplurality of DTC channel types over each 6 MHz RF channel, as comparedto a 6 MHz ATC 210. Three types of digital transport channels 250illustrated in FIG. 2 include broadcast digital transmission channels220, carousel digital transmission channels 230, and on-demandtransmission channels 240. MPEG-2 transport may be used to multiplexvideo, audio, and data in each of these digital transmission channels(DTCs) 220. However, because MPEG-2 transport streams multiplex video,audio, and data to be placed in the same stream, the DTCs 250 do notnecessarily have to be allocated in separate 6 MHz RF frequencies,unlike the ATCs 210.

[0048] Continuing with FIG. 2, the broadcast DTCs 220 and carousel DTCs230 preferably function as continuous feeds for indefinite time, whereasthe on demand DTCs 240 are continuous feed sessions for a limited time.Preferably, all DTCs 250 are capable of being transmitted at high datarates. The broadcast DTCs 220 preferably carry data comprising multipledigitally compressed and formatted as MPEG-2, TV channels and othercontinuously fed data information. The carousel DTCs 230 carry broadcastdata, such as EPG data and data for a catalog of recordable mediacontent, that is systematically broadcast in a cycling fashion butupdated and revised as need be. Thus, the carousel DTCs 230 can serve tocarry high volume data, such as EPG data and purchasable recordablemedia (PRM) catalog data, as well as other data at high data rates. Thecarousel DTCs 230 preferably carry data formatted in directories andfiles by a Broadcast File System (BFS), which is used for producing andtransmitting data streams throughout the subscriber network televisionsystem, and which provides an efficient method for delivery ofapplication executables and application data to the DHCT 16. The ondemand DTCs 240 can carry particular information, such as compressedvideo and audio pertaining to subscriber requested video services orrecordable media content, as well as other specialized data information.Each carousel DTC 230 and on demand DTC 240 is defined by a sessionmanaged by a session manager 334 in FIG. 3, via an MPEG-2 DigitalStorage Media—Command and Control (DSM-CC) protocol.

[0049] Also shown in FIG. 2 is an Out-Of-Band (OOB) channel 251 thatprovides a continuously available two-way signaling path to the DHCT 16regardless of which in-band channels are tuned to by an individual DHCT16 in-band tuner. The DHCT 16 may also comprise multiple in-band tunersin which case the OOB channel 251 complements the service of the set ofin-band tuners. The OOB channel 251 consists of a forward data channel(FDC) and a reverse data channel (RDC). The OOB channel 251 can complyto any one of a number of well known transport protocols but preferablycomplies to either a DAVIC 1.1 Transport Protocol with FDC of 1.544 MBpsor more using Quadrature Phase-Shift Keying (QPSK) modulation and an RDCof 1.544 Mbps or more using QPSK modulation, or to a DOCSIS TransportProtocol with FDC of 27 Mbps using 64-QAM modulation and a RDC of 1.544Mbps or more using QPSK modulation or 16-QAM modulation. The OOB channel251 provides the two-way operation of the network, which allows asubscriber interactivity with the services provided by the network.Therefore, the DHCT 16 preferably contains functionality similar to anetworked computer (i.e., a computer without a persistent storagedevice) in addition to traditional set top box functionality, as is wellknown in the art. Furthermore, the OOB channel 251 is not limited to a 6MHz spectrum, but generally to a smaller spectrum, such as 1.5 or 3 MHz,in one embodiment.

[0050]FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the example headend II depicted inFIG. 1, as configured in a subscriber network television system, toprovide purchasable and recordable media (PRM) content services, eitheras an on-demand or scheduled service with a plurality of possibledelivery durations. It will be understood that the headend 11 shown inFIG. 2 is merely illustrative and should not be construed as implyingany limitations upon the scope of the preferred embodiments of theinvention.

[0051] In the system headend 11, a PRM application server 319 and aplurality of other application servers (not shown) are connected to adigital network control system (DNCS) 323 via an Ethernet connection332. The PRM application server 319 preferably is responsible for thefollowing: reserving and configuring system resources needed to providePRM services, for packaging, configuring and making available theexecutable software program comprising a PRM application client 477(FIG. 4), for providing configuration and service data (such as acatalog of recordable media content categorized and displayed by titlesavailable for rent and/or purchase) to PRM application clients 477 (FIG.4), and for storing data at the request of a PRM application client 477.A PRM application client 477 executing on processor 444 (FIG. 4) in DHCT16 generates a user interface that is displayed on television 441 is(FIG. 4) for the subscriber to browse, purchase, and access mediacontent such as movies, CDs, video clips, etc. This may require, amongother things, engaging, preferably, in a direct two-way IP (InternetProtocol) connection with VOD content servers 322.

[0052] The DNCS 323 provides management, monitoring, and control of theDBDS 10 (FIG. 1) network elements and broadcast services provided tousers. The DNCS 323 provides control and communication functionality bymonitoring the DHCTs 16 and facilitating messaging between the DHCTs 16and components within the headend 11. When any of the communicationfunctionality is provided by headend 11 components other than the DNCS323, the DNCS 323 indirectly provides similar functionality by providingthe control and coordination to those other devices that provide therequired communication functionality to enact a particular mediaservice.

[0053] In one implementation, the DNCS 323 includes functional supportfor client-server applications and other components in the DBDS 10(FIG. 1) with its server counterparts, including BFS Server 328 and SAMserver 325, which will be described in greater detail below. Briefly,the client-server application counterparts work in coordination withDNCS 323 to effectively utilize the primary features of the interactivetelevision system and manage the sale and delivery of audio, video,software, and other media content. Furthermore, the client-serverapplication software in communication with DNCS 323 can effectivelyredirect allocation of excess VOD infrastructure capacity to facilitatemaximum rate delivery of (PRM) content and also manages impulse purchaseand trial purchase transactions, in cooperation with the PRM applicationclient 477 (FIG. 4). Also, in one implementation, the DNCS 323 uses adata insertion multiplexor 329 and a data QAM 330 to insert the in-bandbroadcast file system (BFS) data into a compressed data stream, forexample, an MPEG-2 transport stream.

[0054] The DNCS 323 includes a session manager 334 and a conditionalaccess system 370. The session manager 334 preferably uses the MPEG-2DSM-CC protocol to coordinate requests for media content, for example,PRM content. The session manager 334 processes user to network (U-N)session signaling messages, manages allocation of session-relatednetwork resources and supports network management operations. Thesession manager 334 supports exclusive services, such as the PRMservice, by providing the signaling interface to establish, maintain,and release client initiated exclusive sessions. The session manager 334acts as a point of contact to the network for the DHCT 16 in the network18 to establish individual sessions. The session manager 334 alsodefines a resource descriptor structure, which is used to request thenetwork resources within a session.

[0055] The conditional access system 370 communicates with the DHCT 16and the billing system 320 to determine whether a particular subscriberis authorized to receive PRM content. If a DHCT 16 is not authorized forPRM service, the conditional access system 370 insures that suchservices are not transmitted.

[0056] The PRM application server 319 communicates via the Ethernetconnection 332 to a service application manager (SAM) server 325contained on the DNCS 323. Service application manager (SAM) server 325is a server component of a client-server pair of components, with theclient component being located at the DHCT 16. Together, theclient-server SAM components provide a system in which the user canaccess services, which are identified by an application to run and oneor more parameters, such as particular data content, specific to thatservice. The SAM server 325 also manages the life cycle of theapplications on the system, including the definition, activation, andsuspension of services they provide and the downloading of theapplications into the DHCT 16 as necessary. The PRM application server319 defines its application to the SAM server 325 and the SAM server 325instructs the BFS server 328 to add the executable code for the PRMapplication client 477 (FIG. 4) to a carousel (not shown) fordistribution to the various DHCTs 16 in the network 18. In otherembodiments, executable code is not transferred, but instead,functionality is effected through other mechanisms.

[0057] The BFS server 328 is a part of a broadcast file system that hasa BFS client 443 (FIG. 4) in each DHCT 16 in the network 18.Applications on both the headend 11 and the DHCT 16 can access the datastored in the BFS server 328 in a similar manner to a file system foundon disc operating systems. The BFS server 328 loads data forapplications on a carousel (not shown) that sends data in a cyclicalrepeated fashion, each cycle approximately the same period of time sothat the DHCT 16 that communicates a request for any particular data mayreceive it when the user desires the data. Thus, the BFS client 443(FIG. 4) contained in the DHCT 16 that receives the broadcast from theBFS server 328 can implement the application for the user, as will bedescribed in greater detail below.

[0058] PRM content or data can reside in the PRM application server 319,in the VOD content server 322, or in other application servers (notshown). The content manager 321 and VOD content servers 322 deliverMPEG-2 content to a group of QAM modulators 324. PRM content can residein VOD content servers 322 as a movie, as an audio program, or as anMPEG-2 private data program. The content manager 321 is responsible formanaging the content on the VOD content servers 322 and on other serverssuch as PRM application server 319 or other application servers (notshown). The PRM application server 319 utilizes the content manager 321and VOD content servers 322 to deliver the data, video and/or audiostreams that make up the PRM services. The PRM application server 319 isalso responsible for controlling the content manager 321 and VOD contentservers 322. The QAM group 324 is actually a multiplex of QAMs thatsupport PRM content transmission to a particular DHCT 16. The sessionmanager 334 in DNCS 323 determines which QAM modulator has access to aparticular DHCT 16. The QAM modulators 324 are also responsible forencrypting the transport stream and inserting other data and informationinto the stream, as will be described in more detail below. The QAMmodulators 324 receive the MPEG-2 transport stream from the VOD contentservers 222 and convert it to an encrypted RF signal at a specifiedfrequency (channel).

[0059] In one embodiment of the invention, content manager 321 fulfillsmanagement of VOD content and PRM content. In an alternate embodiment,content manager 321 is comprised of two entities, a first contentmanager dedicated to VOD content management and a second managerdedicated to PRM content management.

[0060] A Quadrature Phase-Shift Keying (QPSK) modem 326 is responsiblefor transporting the out-of-band IP (Internet protocol) datagram trafficbetween the distribution headend 11 and a DHCT 16. Data from the QPSKmodem 326 is routed by headend router 327 within the headend 11. Theheadend router 327 is also responsible for delivering upstreamapplication traffic, such as a user requests for PRM content, to thevarious application servers, such as, for example, PRM applicationserver 319.

[0061]FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a DHCT 16 that is coupledto a headend 11 and to a television 441. It will be understood that theDHCT 16 shown in FIG. 3 is merely illustrative and should not beconstrued as implying any limitations upon the scope of the preferredembodiments of the invention. Some of the functionality performed byapplications executed in the DHCT 16 (for example, the PRM clientapplication 477) may instead be performed at the headend 11 and viceversa, in some embodiments. A DHCT 16 is typically situated at theresidence of a user or place of business and may be a stand-alone unitor integrated into another device such as, for example, a television setor a personal computer or an audio device, such as, for example, aprogrammable radio. The DHCT 16 preferably includes a communicationsinterface 442 for receiving signals (video, audio and/or other data)from the headend 11 through the network 18 and for providing any reverseinformation to the headend 11 through the network 18.

[0062] The DHCT 16 preferably includes at least one processor 444 forcontrolling operations of the DHCT 16, an output system 448 for drivingthe television display 441, and at least one tuner system 445 for tuninginto a particular television channel to be displayed and for sending andreceiving various types of data or media content to and from the headend11. The tuner system 445 includes, in one implementation, an out-of-bandtuner and upstream transmitter for bi-directional QPSK datacommunication and a quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) tuner(in-band) for receiving television signals. It should be appreciatedthat the OOB tuner and upstream transmitter can be one component, or inother embodiments, the tuner and transmitter can be independent of eachother and located separately within the DHCT 16. The OOB tuner andupstream transmitter enables the DHCT 16 to interface with a subscribernetwork television system so that the DHCT 16 can provide upstream datato the network, for example, via a QPSK channel that serves as anupstream OOB channel and received by a QPSK receiver in QPSK modem 326in headend 11. In this manner, a subscriber can interact with thesubscriber network television system to request services or the data ofservices such as, for example, PRM content. Alternatively, the upstreamdata transmission can be effected via a QAM channel with a QAMtransmitter in DHCT 16 and a QAM receiver in headend 11. Alternatively,a telephone modem in the DHCT 16 can be utilized for upstream datatransmission. Further, a headend 11 or hub 12 or other component locatedupstream in the subscriber network television system may receive datafrom a telephone network coupled to a telephone modem and can route theupstream data to a destination internal or external to the subscribernetwork television system.

[0063] The DHCT 16 preferably includes a demultiplexing system 443comprising functionality for QAM demodulation, forward error correction(FEC), transport demultiplexing, decryption (via decryptor 588), andparsing, as is well known in the art, to counter the effect of signalprocessing of broadcast media content and data in the subscriber networktelevision system. Transport demultiplexing preferably includes MPEG-2transport demultiplexing. The demultiplexing system 443 in communicationwith communication interface 442, tuner system 445 and processor 444effects reception of compressed video streams, compressed audio streams,and compressed data streams corresponding to a selected program to beseparated from other programs and/or streams transported in the tunedtransmission channel and to be eventually stored in secondary storagedevice 414 (FIG. 4) in accordance with one embodiment of the invention,as will be described in greater detail below.

[0064] Additionally, a receiver 446 receives externally generatedinformation, such as user inputs or commands from other devices. TheDHCT 16 may also include one or more wireless or wired interfaces, alsocalled communication ports 474 and 475, for receiving and/ortransmitting data to other devices. For example, the DHCT 16 may featureUSB (Universal Serial Bus), Ethernet (for connection to a computer),IEEE-1394 (for connection to media devices in an entertainment center),serial, and/or parallel ports. The user inputs may be, for example,provided by a computer or transmitter with buttons or keys locatedeither on the exterior of the terminal or by a hand-held remote controldevice or keyboard that includes user-actuated buttons, or the userinputs may be aural.

[0065] In one implementation, the DHCT 16 includes system memory 449,which includes FLASH memory 451 and dynamic random access memory (DRAM)452, for storing various applications, modules and data for executionand use by the processor 444. Basic functionality of the DHCT 16 isprovided by an operating system 453 that is primarily stored in FLASHmemory 451. Among other elements, the operating system 453 includes atleast one resource manager 467 that provides an interface to resourcesof the DHCT 16 such as, for example, computing resources. An applicationreferred to as a navigator 455 is also resident in FLASH memory 451 forproviding a navigation framework for services provided by the DHCT 16.The navigator 455 registers for and in some cases reserves certain userinputs related to navigational keys such as channel increment/decrement,last channel, favorite channel, etc. The navigator 455 also providesusers with television related menu options that correspond to DHCT 16functions such as, for example, blocking a channel or a group ofchannels from being displayed in a channel menu.

[0066] The FLASH memory 451 also contains a platform library 456. Theplatform library 456 is a collection of utilities useful toapplications, such as a timer manager, a compression manager, aconfiguration manager, an HTML parser, a database manager, a widgettoolkit, a string manager, and other utilities (not shown). Theseutilities are accessed by applications via application programminginterfaces (APIs) as necessary so that each application does not have tocontain these utilities. Two components of the platform library 456 thatare shown in FIG. 4 are a window manager 459 and a service applicationmanager client (SAM) 457.

[0067] The window manager 459 provides a mechanism for implementing thesharing of the screen regions and user input. The window manager 459 inthe DHCT 16 is responsible for, as directed by one or more applications,implementing the creation, display, and de-allocation of the limitedDHCT 16 screen display resources. It allows multiple applications toshare the screen by assigning ownership of screen regions, or windows.The window manager 459 also maintains, among other things, a user inputregistry 450 in DRAM 452. When a user enters a key or a command via theremote control device 480 or another input device such as a keyboard ormouse, the user input registry 450 is accessed to determine which ofvarious applications running on the DHCT 16 should receive datacorresponding to the input key and in which order. As an application isexecuted, it registers a request to receive certain user input keys orcommands. When the user presses a key corresponding to one of thecommands on the remote control device 480, the command is received bythe receiver 446 and relayed to the processor 444. The processor 444dispatches the event to the operating system 453 where it is forwardedto the window manager 459 which ultimately accesses the user inputregistry 450 and routes data corresponding to the incoming command tothe appropriate application.

[0068] The Client SAM 457 is a client component of a client-server pairof components, with the server component being located on the headend111 preferably in DNCS 323. A SAM database 460 (i.e. structured datasuch as a database or data structure) in DRAM 452 includes a datastructure of services and a data structure of channels that are createdand updated by the headend 11. Herein, database will refer to adatabase, structured data or other data structures as is well known tothose of ordinary skill in the art. Many services can be defined usingthe same application component, with different parameters.

[0069] Examples of services include, without limitation and inaccordance with one implementation, presenting television programs(available through a WatchTV application 462), pay-per-view events(available through a PPV application 464), digital music (478),video-on-demand (available through an VOD application 463), purchasablerecordable media (PRM) services (via PRM application client 477), and aninteractive program guide (available through IPG application 377). Ingeneral, the identification of a service includes the identification ofan executable application that provides the service along with a set ofapplication-dependent parameters that indicate to the application theservice to be provided. For example, a service of presenting atelevision program could be executed by WatchTV application 462 with aset of parameters specifying the HBO to view HBO or with a separate setof parameters to view CNN. Each association of the application component(tune video) and one parameter component (HBO or CNN) represents aparticular service that has a unique service I.D. The Client SAM 457also interfaces with the resource manager 467, as discussed below, tocontrol resources of the DHCT 16.

[0070] The PRM client application 477 preferably is downloaded into DRAM452 from the head end 11. Alternatively, the PRM client application 477may be resident in FLASH memory 451. Similar to an EPG application (notshown) that has an EPG database of records in which program informationis supported by client-server EPG counterparts, the PRM clientapplication 477 employs a first PRM database 481 of records thatcomprises information pertaining to PRM content for presentation to asubscriber. The first PRM database 481 contains sufficient informationfor the presentation of available PRM content at the current time andfor subsequent periods. The PRM application server 319, in communicationwith PRM application client 477, effects updates to the first PRMdatabase 481 stored in memory 449 or in a storage device (such asstorage device 413) of DHCT 16. PRM application client 477 reads firstPRM database 481 records and processes them into a displayablerepresentation as part of a GUI presentation displayed on a television441 or similar display device for presentation to a subscriber.

[0071] PRM content information associated with PRM content istransmitted on a regular or periodic basis from PRM application server319 (FIG. 3) to one or more DHCTs 16. PRM content information maycomprise descriptive information to populate the entries of a PRM guide,a service guide, or an EPG presentation with the corresponding PRMfields that are presented to the subscriber via aGraphical-User-Interface (GUI) from which a subscriber can select andrequest additional descriptive information about respective PRM content.Hence, per PRM content in the displayed presentation to the subscriber,the subscriber can retrieve and view (and hear if applicable)information specific to a PRM content title and proceed to purchasespecific PRM content (i.e. one or more PRM content instances), as willbe described in greater detail below. PRM content information comprisesdata organized into records of the first PRM database 481 with recordfields containing, but not limited to, information such as PRM contenttitle, PRM content description, PRM genre, release year, casts orperformers list, ratings information, and play duration for each PRMcontent instance.

[0072] Application clients can also be downloaded into DRAM 452 at therequest of the Client SAM 457, preferably in response to a request bythe user or in response to a message from the headend 11.

[0073] In one implementation, DRAM 452 contains a video-on-demandapplication (VOD) 463, an e-mail application 476, a PRM application 477,and a web browser application 475, among others. It should be clear toone with ordinary skill in the art that these applications are notlimiting and merely serve as examples for one embodiment of theinvention. Furthermore, one or more DRAM based applications may, as analternative embodiment, be resident in FLASH memory 451. Theseapplications, and others provided by the subscriber network televisionsystem operator, are top level software entities on the network forproviding services to the user.

[0074] In one implementation, applications executing on the DHCT 16 workwith the navigator 455 by abiding by several guidelines. First, anapplication utilizes the Client SAM 457 for the provision, activation,and suspension of services. Second, an application shares DHCT 16resources with other applications and abides by the resource managementpolicies of the Client SAM 457, the operating system 453, and the DHCT16. Third, an application handles situations where resources are onlyavailable with navigator 455 intervention. Fourth, when an applicationloses service authorization while providing a service, the applicationsuspends the service via the SAM (the navigator 455 will reactivate anindividual service application when it later becomes authorized).Finally, an application client is designed to not have access to certainuser input keys reserved by the navigator (i.e., power, channel +/−,volume +/−, etc.).

[0075] An executable program or algorithm corresponding to an operatingsystem (OS) component, or to a client platform component, or to a clientapplication, or to respective parts thereof, can reside in and executeout of DRAM 452 and/or FLASH memory 451. Likewise, data input into oroutput from any executable program can reside in DRAM 452 or FLASHmemory 451. Furthermore, an executable program or algorithmcorresponding to an OS component, or to a client platform component, orto a client application, or to respective parts thereof, can reside inFLASH memory 451, or in a local storage device coupled to DHCT 16 andcan be transferred into DRAM 452 for execution. Likewise, data input foran executable program can reside in FLASH memory 451 or a storagedevice, for example storage device 413, and can be transferred into DRAM452 for use by an executable program or algorithm. In addition, dataoutput by an executable program can be written into DRAM 452 by anexecutable program or algorithm and can be transferred into FLASH memory451 or into a storage device for storage purposes.

[0076] The security processor 565 is a secure element for performingsecurity and conditional access related functions. More particularly,the security processor 565 functions to authorize the DHCT 16 of apaying subscriber to execute specialized functionality of the DHCT 16,such as receiving and decrypting (or descrambling) encrypted (orscrambled) media content and other data sent from a remote device.Security processor 565 preferably includes a microprocessor and a memorythat only the microprocessor of the security processor 565 may access.Preferably, security processor 565 is contained in a tamper proofpackage. With reference to FIG. 3, in one implementation, encryption isapplied to the data stream of the requested media content, for examplethe respective PRM content, at the QAM group 324 at the headend 11according to encryption methods well-known to those of ordinary skill inthe art. An encryption component resident in the QAM group 324 in thehead end 11 and under the direction of the DNCS 323 encrypts, forexample, MPEG-2 transport stream packets used to transmit the PRMcontent. The encrypted PRM content also includes, in one embodiment,entitlement control messages that are recognized by the securityprocessor 565 (FIG. 4) at the DHCT 16 as information needed to decryptthe encrypted PRM content. Security processor 565 preferably storesauthorization information, wherein the authorization informationindicates that the subscriber is entitled to access the PRM content. Theauthorization information is obtained from one or more entitlementmessages sent by the head end 11 after, or concurrently with,initialization of the DHCT 16 into a purchased service. If theauthorization information indicates that the subscriber is entitled tothe PRM content, security processor 565 generates a code word or keybased on the authorization information and the received entitlementcontrol message, and the security processor 565 uses this key to decryptthe encrypted PRM content at the decryptor 588 (FIG. 4).

[0077] In one embodiment, the DHCT 16 includes a primary storage device413 and a secondary storage device 414. The ability to recordprogramming on the primary storage device 413 provides a convenientmethod to temporarily buffer programming to fit a viewing schedule,however, in accordance with one embodiment, for economic reasons thesystems will have a limited amount of primary storage. In oneimplementation, based on, for example, existing VCR usage patterns,there will be many occasions when the user will want to save or archiveprograms on the secondary storage device 414 for later viewing orarchive the programs for later reference. The primary storage device 413is preferably internal to DHCT 16 and in electrical communication to aninternal main bus for communication with other DHCT 16 elements througha data interface 412 such as a SCSI or IDE interface. In otherembodiments, the primary storage device 413 can be externally connectedto (and thus removable from) the DHCT 16 via a communication port (forexample, 474 or 475) such as IEEE-1394 or USB or via a SCSI or an IDEinterface. The primary storage device 413 is preferably a hard diskdrive. The primary storage device 413 exhibits fast seek-time and highdata transfer rates properties and its storage medium is preferablynon-removable, such as in the case of a hard disk drive. Because theamount of data in one or more downloaded instances of PRM contenttypically surpasses the memory space allocated for application data inmemory 449, and because the primary storage device 413 featuressufficiently large storage capacity, the primary storage device 413serves, in one implementation, as a large repository or cache fordownloaded PRM content. Alternatively, memory 449 may be large enough(and fast enough) to accommodate data transfers without the need for theprimary storage device 413.

[0078] In one implementation, under the auspices of the real-timeoperating system 453 executed by processor 444, and in coordination withPRM application client 477, downloaded PRM content and/or data isreceived in DHCT 16 via communications interface 442 and stored in atemporary buffer in memory 449. The temporary buffer is implemented andmanaged to enable data transfers from the temporary buffer to theprimary storage device 413 in concert with the insertion of a newlyarriving PRM content into the temporary buffer. The fast access time andhigh data transfer rate characteristics of primary storage device 413enables PRM content and/or data to be read from the temporary buffer inmemory 449 and written to the storage medium of primary storage device413 in a sufficiently fast manner. Orchestration of multiplesimultaneous data transfer operations is effected so that while contentand/or data is being transferred from memory 449 to primary storagedevice 413, new PRM content and/or data (herein media content) isreceived and stored in the temporary buffer. The coordination of datatransfers and lower latency characteristics of primary storage device413 enable PRM content to be received by DHCT 16 at high data rates. Theprimary storage device 413 functions to store media content that isreceived by the DHCT 16 from the headend 11 on an interim basis.

[0079] For permanent or semi-permanent storage, the secondary storagedevice 414 comprises a storage media drive, internally or externallyconnected to DHCT 16 in a similar fashion as the primary storage device413, but featuring at least one high-capacity removable storage mediumand, in one implementation, slower seek-time and lower data transferrates characteristics. The secondary storage device 414 is preferably amultiple compact disc (CD) drive or multiple digital video disc (DVD)carousel or magazine drive that at least has write capability, but mayalso have read capability among other capabilities. Alternatively, thesecondary storage device 414 may be a single CD drive or DVD drive withat least write capability, but may also have read capability among othercapabilities, or a video recorder (VCR or D-VCR) or other data recorder.Alternatively, the carousel may be a magazine type. In oneimplementation, the media content that is received and stored on theprimary storage device 413 is transferred by way of memory 449 to thesecondary storage device 414 wherein it is written to one or moreremovable media residing in the secondary storage device 414. Thetransfer of PRM content from primary storage device 413 to secondarystorage device 414 can occur concurrently to the download of therespective PRM contain in a coordinated sequential fashion or after therespective PRM content has been completely received and stored in theprimary storage device 413. In the former case a second temporary bufferin memory 449 is utilized to implement the transfer of PRM content fromthe primary storage device 413 to secondary storage device 414. Givenits faster seek time and higher data transfer rate characteristics,primary storage device 413 preferably operates faster than the secondarystorage device 414. Alternatively, PRM content is transferred frommemory 449 to the secondary storage device 414 with higher data ratetransfer characteristics, or yet in other embodiments, PRM content istransferred from a remote server or other remote device to a DHCT 16communication port and then directly to the secondary storage device414.

[0080] Also as shown in FIG. 4, the DHCT 16 preferably includes accessto a printer 458, either connected locally to the DHCT 16 or via a homecommunication network via communication port 474. In one implementation,the printer 458 prints labels to be applied to the removable media(i.e., CDs or DVDs) of the secondary storage device 414. Preferably,these labels convey, at least, verification of purchase and authenticityof the data written to the media. Thus, in one implementation, labelsare printed by the printer 458 as a result of an execution signalreceived by the printer 458 from the PRM application client 477 as aresult of an authorized purchase of PRM content in which authorizationwas granted from the head end 11. Alternatively, DHCT 16 may operatewithout the printer 458.

[0081] The PRM client application 477 configures the DHCT 16 for thedownload, purchase, and billing of downloaded purchasable recordablemedia (PRM) content, including configuring the DHCT 16 for receipt oftrial and impulse purchases of PRM content. The PRM application client477 also provides for a user interface for specification of downloadingoptions in cooperation with PRM application server 319 (FIG. 3) and incooperation with other client applications, for example VOD 463 and PPV464 and Music applications (not shown). Alternatively, the userinterface may be provided from the head end 11. Regarding the billingfunctionality, after a purchase transaction has occurred and thepurchase is acknowledged, the purchase is recorded for billing purposes.In one embodiment, the PRM application client 477 configures theprocessor 444 to cause PRM purchase transactions to be stored in theFLASH memory 451 part of system memory 449 or in some other designatednon-volatile memory section of DHCT 16 as purchase transactions occur.PRM transaction records and associated fees are transmitted upstream viathe OOB upstream channel at designated scheduled times (e.g., during lowbandwidth consumption periods) to the billing system 320. Alternatively,the PRM application server 319, under the direction of the billingsystem 320, may periodically poll individual DHCTs 16 or group of DHCTsto collect their respective PRM transaction history. PRM transactionrecords received from the DHCT 16 by the PRM application server 319(FIG. 3) are debited from the respective account of the subscriber bythe billing system 320.

[0082] The PRM application 477 also has library functionality forcataloging downloaded recordable media content. Media contentinformation associated with PRM content is transmitted on a regular orperiodic basis from PRM application server 319 (FIG. 3) to one or moreDHCTs 16. PRM content information may comprise descriptive informationto populate the entries of the first PRM database 481 or a service guideor the corresponding PRM fields of an electronic program guide (EPG)that is presented to the subscriber via a Graphical-User-Interface (GUI)from which a subscriber can select and request additional descriptiveinformation about respective PRM content titles. Hence, per PRM contentinformation in the displayed presentation to the subscriber, thesubscriber can retrieve and view (and hear if applicable) informationspecific to a PRM content title and proceed to purchase specific PRMcontent, as will be described in greater detail below.

[0083] The PRM client application 477 can offer the user a plurality ofcategory choices, wherein the user may select from pre-configuredcategories from an input device such as a wired or wireless keyboard orremote control to classify downloaded PRM content into variouscategories. Alternatively, the user may enter textual information withan input device in order to create his or her own categories. Hence,downloaded PRM content can be recorded with modified or additionalcategory information. In an alternate embodiment, a user can eitherdownload from the PRM application server 319, or transfer from apersonal computer connected to a home communication network, additionalinformation such as graphical information or a still picture to beincluded with the recording of the PRM content into recordable mediainserted in secondary storage device 414. PRM client application 477functionality further includes second database 482 managementcapabilities in which records of second database 482 can be stored inmemory 449, primary storage device 413, or in a recordable disc insertedin secondary storage device 414. Management of the second database 482extends library functionality to the user for archiving PRM content aswell as non-PRM content accessible via the secondary storage device 414or a home communication network. Hence, the user is able to archivemedia content, perform searches (as extended by search capabilitiesinherent in the database management software program), and edit personalannotations such as the media content category, date recorded, etc. Inone embodiment, subscriber network programming, such as for examplecable programming, is first recorded/stored on the primary data buffer(for example, in primary storage device 413) which is indexed by contentID and record date/time information (i.e. meta data). The minimumcontent ID information collected is the originating channel number butcould include program ID (PID) or other media content and media contentdescription information. The record date/time information is simply thedate/time the recording was made and is used by the system for datamanagement/purge) and can also be used by the subscriber as one ofseveral methods to locate previously recorded media content. The mediacontent recorded in the primary buffer (for example, primary storagedevice 413) is available for viewing and disposition by the subscriber.Media content can be viewed, deleted, or spooled along with the dataaccessible by universal or widely adopted access and naming conventions(e.g., as is characteristically in meta data) to a secondary buffer (forinstance, in secondary storage device 414) for longer term storage andplayback. Media content left in the primary buffer are subject to beoverwritten by new media content. In one embodiment, the secondarybuffer is located on removable media that can be stored for futureplayback.

[0084]FIG. 5 is an example archive main screen 500 illustrating thearchiving features provided by the PRM application 477 (FIG. 4). Examplearchive main screen 500 is preferably invoked after the user hasreceived a purchase acknowledgement. Alternatively, example main screenmay occur at the time of the download, or after the download, before orafter the transfer to the secondary storage device 414. The examplearchive main screen 500 includes a title header 501 suggesting to theuser the purpose of the screen, and a subtitle header 502 indicatingwhich hierarchical level of the archiving screen displays is currentlydisplayed, in this instance, a main screen 500. Example main screen 500includes an information window 510 that provides brief descriptiveinformation, such as, for example, title, rating, date of composition,length of presentation, length of download and time and date ofdownload. More or less information may be included. Example archive mainscreen 500 also includes several pre-configured lists, such as mediacontent list 524, genre/descriptive list 522, and medium list 520. Eachof these pre-configured lists includes information within a series oflist entry blocks 525. The information in these lists will preferably bedefaulted to the selection corresponding to the shown highlighted listentry block 526 of each list based on the characterizing informationcorresponding to the recordable media content selection. In oneembodiment, this characterizing information can be received from theheadend 11 to the DHCT 16 (FIG. 1) to enable the DHCT 16 to perform thearchiving functionality. In other embodiments, this characterizinginformation need not be downloaded to a DHCT 16, but instead, can remainat the headend 11 where the archiving functionality can be performed.Thus, genre/descriptive list 522 changes accordingly to the subscriberselection of a respective entry in media content list 524. For example,the genre/descriptive list 522 changes to a display corresponding togames displays upon the subscriber selecting games in media content list524. Other embodiments are possible, such as a configuration screen (notshown) wherein the user categorizes the downloaded media contentaccording to his or her own personal definitions or classifications. Asanother example, media content list 524 includes such media content asmovies, games, and software, as well as more media content options notshown. The default selection highlighted by highlighted list entry block526 corresponds to the fact that the downloaded media content is amovie, for example, Titanic. Genre/descriptive list 522 defaults to“drama” as this corresponds to the characterizing information of theTitanic, which lists the genre of Titanic as a “drama”. Although theseare default selections, the user is free to scroll the highlighted listentry block 526 of each list to enter his or her own preference for acategory. For example, despite the pre-configured genre categorizationof Titanic (e.g. drama), the user may choose to categorize Titanic as aromance, and thus advance the highlighted list entry block 526 of thegenre/descriptive list 522 to the list entry block 525 containing the“romance” selection. As with any of the lists shown and described on thecurrent and subsequent screens, the user may advance from one selectionto the next selection within a list by using the up and down arrow keysof the remote control device, as suggested by up arrow 530 and downarrow 534, as will be described in greater detail below. There are manyvariations of the scrolling function. Preferably, the user advanceshighlighted list entry block 526 in each list up or down to highlightthe list entry block 525 containing the information desired.Alternatively, the windows in each list may be advanced throughhighlighted list entry block 526. The scope of the preferred embodimentof the invention is not limited to how the user advances to each listentry block 525. The user advances from one list, for example mediacontent list 524, to another list, for example genre/descriptive list522, by using scroll arrows on the remote, as suggested by scroll arrows536. Scroll arrows 536 and 538 correspond to scroll arrows located on aremote device 480, as will be described in more detail below.

[0085] Category display 512 includes one example default format based oncharacterizing information corresponding to the purchased recordablemedia content. In this example, since Titanic is a “movie” of the“drama” genre, the category display 512 lists “drama” in an outlineformat and categorizes selections in this medium, DVD#1, as movies.Alternate formats may be displayed as well, such as personalized formatscreated by the user. The scope of the embodiments of the invention isnot limited by how data is formatted on the screen displays. Assumingthe Titanic purchase as the first purchased download by the user, thedefault will be to DVD#1. As illustrated, extended library functionalitycomprises the capability to not only to catalog media content but eachindividual medium (i.e., a CD disc or DVD disc) loaded in the carouselor magazine drive of secondary storage device 414 (FIG. 4) by the type(or category) of data stored on them. Category information may comprise,for example, types of music (such as classical, rock, or jazz), types ofmovies (such as comedy, drama, or horror), or types of software (such asgames, word processing, or utilities). Sub-categories further delineateeach category, for example, types of games. The library functionalitydetermines if the appropriate disc is loaded in the secondary storagedevice 414 (FIG. 4) or prompts the user to load the secondary storagedevice 414 with the appropriate disc for the media content type that isto be recorded. For example, if rock & roll music, transmitted from theheadend 11 to the DHCT 16, is being recorded, the library functionalitywill control the selection of the appropriate medium, for example a CDfrom the carousel or magazine of the secondary storage device 414, andload it into the drive for writing of the rock and roll music data toit, as shown in FIG. 6. As another example, if the user chooses to viewa drama movie, the library functionality will control the selection ofthe proper medium, in this case a DVD, from the carousel or magazine ofthe secondary storage device 414 and load into the drive for reading ofthe drama movie data in order to transmit it to a display device, suchas for example, a TV display 441 (FIG. 4).

[0086] In FIG. 6, the “A”, “B”, and “C” buttons on the example displayscreen correspond to like buttons on the remote control device 480 toprovide certain user interface functionality. For instance, “A” button640 suggests to a user that the user can request more PRM contentinformation, as will be explained in greater detail below. The “B”button 642 suggests editing and search functionality, as will bedescribed in greater detail below. Return Button “C” 644 suggests thatthe user can return to the main screen display wherein the purchase wasmade, for example a VOD catalog screen, or PPV screen. From the mainscreen display, the user can select “play” (not shown) to have thearchived PRM content of his or her choice presented. The “SEL” button632 suggests that the user can complete the archiving after making theselections in the pre-configured lists. Pressing the “SEL” button 387(FIG. 7) on the remote control device 480, as suggested by select button532 (FIG. 5), results in the example screen displayed in FIG. 8, as willbe described in greater detail below. Buttons “A”-“C” (640, 642, and 644respectively), arrow buttons 630, 634, 636 and 638, and “SEL” button 632suggest a one-to-one functional correspondence to similar buttons on aremote device, such as the example remote control device 480 illustratedin FIG. 7. With continued reference to FIG. 6, FIG. 7 illustrates ablock diagram example of a remote control device 480 that is used toprovide user input to the DHCT 16. The arrow buttons 382 include an uparrow button 383, a down arrow button 384, a left arrow button 385, anda right arrow button 386 that are used to scroll through options orselections and/or to highlight an option or selection displayed on oneof the plurality of user interface screens.

[0087] The select button 387 may be used to select a currentlyhighlighted option or selection that is provided to the user. Letteredbutton “A” 388, “B” 389, and “C” 390 may be used to implement functionson a user interface screen that have the corresponding letter. Numericbuttons 395 may be used to enter numbers, or configured with theapplication to enter letters corresponding to the numeric buttons 395.

[0088] In describing the example screen displays, it will be understoodthat “selecting” or “pressing” the navigational and lettered buttons onthe screen actually require selecting the corresponding buttons, orkeys, on remote control device 480. Many alternative methods ofproviding user input may be used including a remote control device withdifferent buttons and/or button layouts, a keyboard device, a voiceactivated device, etc. The embodiments of the invention described hereinare not limited by the type of device used to provide user input.

[0089]FIG. 8 is a screen diagram that illustrates an example archivemain screen 800 as a result of the user pressing the “SEL” button 532 inthe archive main screen 500 (FIG. 5) to enter the movie Titanic underthe “drama” subcategory in medium DVD#1. As noted, Titanic is displayedin category display 812 under the subcategory “drama” in outline format.FIG. 9 is a screen diagram that illustrates an example archive mainscreen 900 wherein the user has entered another purchase of recordablemedia content, in this case, Suzie Floosey. The PRM client application477 (FIG. 4) recognizes Suzie Floosey as an adult movie fromcorresponding characterizing information delivered to the DHCT 16, andas similarly described above, defaults to each of these categories inthe media content list 924 and genre/descriptive list 922. As DVD#1 wasused for movies by the same user, the default medium in the medium list920 is DVD#1. If the user purchasing the downloaded recordable mediacontent was a different or second user, the default will preferably beto a different medium. For example, the default medium for the seconduser may be DVD#2, assuming no prior configurations by the second user,since characterizing information corresponding to the PIN entry of theuser entered during the purchase of Suzie Floosey, as explained below,would reflect a different purchaser.

[0090] Alternatively, the defaulted medium could be DVD#1, regardless ofthe purchaser, as the only DVD currently containing movie content, againassuming no prior configurations for movies. Note that the discussionregarding downloading to a DVD assumes that more than one movie may bedownloaded to a DVD. In embodiments where the DVD allows only one movieto be downloaded, then the medium archiving aspect of said embodimentwill select a distinct DVD per downloaded movie.

[0091] Category display 912 displays the current content on DVD#1, andautomatically creates, as a default, the “adult” subcategory tocorrespond with genre/descriptive list 922. As described earlier, theuser may choose to describe the genre as a “romance”, and scroll to thecorresponding selection in the genre/descriptive list 922, whereby“romance” would appear in place of “adult” in the category display 912.

[0092] Upon the user entering the select button 932, example archivemain screen 1000 in FIG. 10 is presented, with the feature Suzie Flooseydisplayed in the category display 1012 under the “adult” subcategory,with a lock or PIN icon next to it to reflect PIN access authorizationto view this media content instance presentation. The PIN access featurewould have been determined during the purchase process. The PIN accessentry icon may be displayed as a result of the user entering a PINaccess number to purchase the media content instance, in accordance withthe rating of the movie.

[0093] Alternative icons or warning notices or messages alerting theuser to PIN access entry requirements may also be employed.

[0094]FIG. 11 is a screen diagram of an example archive informationscreen 1100 resulting from the user selecting the “A” more informationbutton 1040 in prior example archive main screen 1000 in FIG. 10.Subtitle header 1102 reflects the fact that the user is currently in thearchive information screen 1100. The user selects up arrow 1130 and downarrow 1134 to advance highlighted list entry block 1126 in selectionlist 1124 to the desired selection. Selection list 1124 includes thecurrent selections in the current medium, for example, DVD#1.Information corresponding to the selection in highlighted list entryblock 1126 in the selection list 1124 is displayed in the informationdisplay 1112 to the right of selection list 1124. PRM contentinformation comprises data organized into records of first database 481(FIG. 4) with record fields containing, but not limited to, informationsuch as PRM content title, PRM content description, PRM genre, releaseyear, casts or performers list, ratings information, and play duration.PRM content information also includes a plurality of prices (shownbelow) for each PRM content, with each respective price associated witha different downloading time and a download duration (shown below). PRMcontent information comprises additional information (not shown) such asa set of selectable downloading times with their respective price andrespective approximate download durations. The effective window ofcalendar days in which respective PRM content is purchasable may also beincluded. Additional information may be included in aggregate fields todenote a PRM content instance rating and consequently support invokingparental control of media content via the PIN entry screen. Other fieldsdesignate information about the person that purchased and recorded themedia content instance, the seller, the date purchased, the daterecorded, and the method of sale (i.e., PRM purchase). Note thatadditional information about the highlighted selection in the selectionlist 1124 is available by selecting the “A” button 1140 to gain accessto links to additional respective program related information such asprogram previews and the reviews and comments of critics. The user mayselect the “C” button 1144 to return to the archive main screen, forexample, the archive main screen 1000 in FIG. 10, or the user may scrollto another selection in the selection list 1124, or the user may decideto search or edit prior configurations by selecting the “B” edit/searchscreen button 1142, as described below.

[0095]FIG. 12 is a screen diagram of an example archive edit screen 1200that extends library functionality by enabling a user to enter and/oredit certain personal annotations such as the media content category,date recorded, etc. Example archive edit screen 1200 includes header1201 and subtitle header 1202, which together reflect the fact that thecurrent screen is an archive edit screen 1200. Example archive editscreen 1200 includes a category display 1212 for displaying the currentselections on the current medium. Example archive edit screen 1200 alsoincludes an edit list 1224, wherein the various categories that may bechanged are listed. Since the medium title is presumably a populartarget for modification, it is the selection defaulted to. Also, sincethe current archive edit screen 1200 was invoked during theconfiguration for the DVD#1, DVD#1 is the highlighted default in themedium list 1222. For example, the user has selected “medium title” fromthe edit list 1224 as a category the user seeks to change. Using scrollarrows 1236, the user advances to the medium list 1222, which ishighlighted at the default selection of DVD#1 as described above. Theuser again uses scroll arrows 1238 to advance to the input window 1220,wherein the user enters their personal title, “John's Romantic Mix”according to well-known methods for entering alphanumeric input on aremote device. FIG. 13 is a screen diagram of an example edit screen1300 responsive to the entry of John's Romantic Mix” in the input window1220 of FIG. 12, wherein the medium title displayed in the categorydisplay 1312 reflects the change in title.

[0096]FIG. 14 is a screen diagram of an example archive search screen1400 responsive to the user selecting the “A” search button 1340 in theexample archive edit screen 1300 of FIG. 13. Note the change in thesubtitle header 1402 reflecting the current screen purpose. Searchwindow 1424 enables the user to enter alphanumeric characters to searchfor media content or other information in any of the media available forsecondary storage device 414 (FIG. 4). The user may enter the name of atitle, or any of the PRM information and the result display 1412 willdisplay the information and in which medium it may be located.

[0097] To offer PRM service, in one implementation, the subscribernetwork television system operator assigns a portion of the downstreamand upstream bandwidth capacity in the subscriber network televisionsystem to be dedicated for transmission of PRM content. The amount ofbandwidth capacity that can be allocated to the PRM service is finite.Grants for request to download PRM content may be limited duringpeak-time periods that correspond to high bandwidth consumption by aplurality of other services. On the other hand, off-peak-time periodsmay feature unused bandwidth capacity intended for other services thatcan be repossessed for downloading of PRM content.

[0098] In one embodiment, the amount of bandwidth capacity allocated forPRM service varies throughout time to reflect bandwidth consumption by aplurality of bandwidth consuming services, including but not limited toVOD services. During peak periods of other bandwidth consuming servicessuch as, for example, video-on-demand (VOD), the amount of bandwidthcapacity allocated to the PRM service is less than during the off-peakperiods. Consequently, the duration for downloading a PRM contentinstance during peak-periods is typically longer than the duration fordownloading a PRM content instance during off-peak-periods. For example,video on demand off-peak periods may run from 6:00 AM to 11:00 AM duringthe first week of May. Accordingly, the DNCS 323 (FIG. 3) at the headend11 will allot bandwidth for downloading PRM content by repossessing theoff-peak bandwidth assigned to video on demand services via a pluralityof DTC 240 channels (FIG. 2).

[0099] In one embodiment, referring to FIG. 3, under coordination andcommunication between content manager 321 and PRM application server319, PRM content is transferred from PRM application server 319 or otherapplication servers (not shown) to VOD content server 322 via Ethernetconnection 332 to effect PRM content delivery over repossessed unusedbandwidth intended for VOD services. The DNCS 323 communicates thechannel location where unused bandwidth is repossessed to subscriberDHCTs requesting PRM services (i.e. subscribers who have electeddownloads of PRM content during these times) resulting in the tunersystem 445 (FIG. 4) of a requesting DHCT 16 to tune to the correspondingchannel to receive the downloadable PRM content.

[0100] In another embodiment of the invention, again referring to FIG.3, under coordination and communication between content manager 321 andPRM application server 319, purchased PRM content that resides in thePRM application server 319 or in other application servers aretransmitted for product delivery from the server wherein media contentresides to the BFS server 328 via Ethernet connection 332. A particularPRM content instance may reside indefinitely in BFS server 328 due tothe high demand of that particular content or content instance, ortemporarily during times of unused BFS bandwidth. In another embodiment,introduction of new media content releases, such as games or audiocontent, may reside in the BFS server 328 for a finite period, such as amonth, starting from their introduction time. Alternatively, PRM contentmay reside in a BFS server 328 for periods of times in which BFS server328 exhibits unused bandwidth capacity.

[0101] According to one implementation, bandwidth allocation for PRMservice is managed according to a series of recurring sub-schedulesconsisting of a plurality of non-overlapping time intervals asillustrated in FIG. 15. “N” sub-schedules are illustrated in FIG. 15,with the understanding that a plurality of sub-schedules may appearbetween sub-schedule #1 and sub-schedule #n. Time intervals aredemarcated by time marks 1510, 1520, etc on horizontal time axis 1505,and represent times within a 24 hour period. The interval between thesetime marks, such as between time marks 1510 and 1520, represent a periodduring the 24 hour period, for example, 12:00 AM to 4:00 AM. The timemark 1530, continuing the example, would represent 5:00 AM, and itsinterval will span to time mark 1540, which may be 8:00 AM. Thecorresponding bandwidth allotted during these time intervals isrepresented by the blocks over the corresponding time intervals, such asblock 1590 over the second time interval bordered between time marks1510 and 1520. Allocated bandwidth goes from, for example, zero 1501 atthe intersection of the horizontal time axis 1505 and vertical bandwidthaxis 1507 in sub-schedule#1 to increasing bandwidth when advancing upfrom zero 1501. Preferably, the time intervals vary in length and areestablished with demarcation according to collected historical data ofbandwidth consumption patterns for a plurality of services.

[0102] Allocation of bandwidth capacity may vary between one timeinterval to the next. Pricing for each respective PRM content instancemay or may not vary in each of the respective time intervals accordingto whether the time interval is a peak period or not. For example,during peak periods, such as 6:00 to 10:59 P.M. of the week nights, therecurring schedule may exhibit higher pricing for PRM services whereasduring certain, low-demand time periods such as 6:00 to 11:00 A.M of theweekend days the pricing will be lower. As disclosed below, otherfactors such as demand for new releases and popular media content mayalso influence pricing. Therefore, allocation of bandwidth capacity forPRM services may be configured to adapt in a time-specific manneraccording to a plan.

[0103] The allocated bandwidth PRM services may be configured to switchas time progresses from a first allocation sub-schedule to a secondallocation sub-schedule according to a main schedule that specifies thetime interval when each of two or more sub-schedules is to be active asillustrated in FIG. 16. As noted in FIG. 16, the plan may consist, inone embodiment, of scheduling for the year with multiple schedules 1610,further administered with fewer schedules on a per week basis 1620, andadministered with even fewer schedules on a daily basis 1630. Forexample, only one configurable sub-schedule is active at a timethroughout the configurable recurring schedule but a first configurablesub-schedule may be active throughout one or more distinct andnon-overlapping time intervals of the configurable recurring schedule.The recurrence of the schedule is configured to one of a plurality oftime periods such as a weekly, daily, or a monthly recurring schedule.

[0104] According to another possible bandwidth allocation schedule, amultiplicity of time-adaptive schedules for each of a multiplicity ofrecurring schedule choices are pre-configured. In this embodiment, thecable system operator may monitor the bandwidth and PRM service usageand be given the option of manually implementing one of thepre-configured allocation schedules without following a plan.

[0105] Alternatively, the DNCS 323 (FIG. 3) may automatically monitorbandwidth usage and automatically select one of the pre-configuredschedules. For instance, six different configurations may be availablefor time-adaptive management of the bandwidth allocated for PRM servicesfor a daily recurring schedule. On the other hand, more than sixdifferent arrangements may be necessary when implementing time-adaptivebandwidth management on a weekly recurring schedule.

[0106] The pricing system and the allocated bandwidth are inherentlyrelated, as the price structure will depend on, among other factors, thetime of the download and the duration of the download. In a subscribernetwork television system that markets PRM content with a plurality ofprices, a first subscriber may be willing to pay a premium toimmediately download a PRM content instance that is purchased during apeak-period. A second subscriber pays a lesser purchase fee whenpurchasing a PRM content instance during a peak-period but selecting todownloaded the purchased PRM content instance at a later timecorresponding to an off-peak period. In one embodiment, the PRM serviceoffers a plurality of prices for a PRM content instance, and eachrespective price is associated with a different downloading time and adownload duration.

[0107] In one implementation wherein VOD excess bandwidth capacity isemployed to fulfill a PRM content instance purchase request, and withcontinued reference to FIGS. 3 & 4, a “session” between the DHCT 16 andthe PRM application server 319 is set throughout the course ofdownloading the PRM content instance. Upon the subscriber purchasing aPRM content instance for a price via the displayed user interface (i.e.the subscriber enters input via an input device and such input maycomprise a password or PIN to authenticate authorization to purchase thePRM content instance), as will be described below in greater detail, apurchase transaction is executed by the processor 444, as configured bythe PRM application 477, that causes a session to be set-up betweensubscriber network television system resources to the DHCT 16. Asfacilitated by session manager 334 in DNCS 323 (FIG. 3), a session is alogical entity used to define a connection between the DHCT 16 and theVOD content server 322 and the resources used to maintain thatconnection in the subscriber network television system. Session manager334 coordinates and effects the signaling required to implement thesession which is preferably defined by the MPEG-2 standard ISO/IEC13818-6 IS (MPEG-2 DSM-CC). Upon a session setup request generated bythe DHCT 16 (usually in response to a request from a subscriber), theDNCS 323 verifies the eligibility of the DHCT 16 to receive the PRMservice. The amount of bandwidth that will be reserved for the durationof the PRM service session is communicated to the relevant servers andheadend 11 components. Via the messaging capabilities of DNCS 323, thePRM application server 319 sends a message to the DHCT 16 that indicatesthat it is ready to begin delivering the video content using theresources allocated. The DHCT 16 receives information in the messageidentifying the QAM modulator that is transmitting the video content(and hence where to tune to receive the requested content) and thebandwidth allocated to deliver the service. After a session has beenestablished, the DHCT 16 communicates directly with the PRM applicationserver 319 to facilitate delivery of the requested PRM service.Throughout the course of time that a PRM service is active, furthermessaging is conducted between the respective DHCT 16 receiving the PRMcontent and the PRM application server 319 to monitor the status of thesession.

[0108] There are a variety of options available to the user forpurchasing PRM content. In one embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 17,the user is presented with an interactive program guide (IPG) 1770 whichhas PRM icons next to varied media content selections, suggesting to theuser the availability of a downloadable and recordable option for thoseselections, as indicated in FIG. 17. The icons, and their screencoordinates, can be stored locally as an attribute in each program (i.e.media content) record, like stereo or second audio program (SAP)attributes. The program records can be stored in a database in the DHCT16, for example an EPG database or first PRM database 481.Alternatively, the program records can be maintained at the headend 11.Any application can display the icon after, for example, the programtitle in the applications' GUI presentation (e.g. IPG application 1770).For example, selections Saving Private Ryan and American History underthe PPV category 1776 have icon “CD/DVD” next to them suggesting to theuser that these selections are available for downloading to a recordablemedium, such as a CD or DVD. In another embodiment, the user may bepresented with a service guide (SG) option 1876 such as the example IPG1890 depicted in FIG. 18. Upon selecting the service guide (SG) option1876, the user is presented with service selections in a service guide(SG) as illustrated in FIG. 19. FIG. 19 is a screen diagram of anexample user service guide (SG) that provides for a plurality ofservices 1956 with CD/DVD icons to alert the user to the ability (orinability) to purchase recordable media content. For example, the CD/DVDicon next to the PPV 1957, VOD 1958, Music 1959, software 1960, andGames 1965 services suggests to the user that these services includeselections that are downloadable to a recordable medium. Alternatively,the PRM service 2075 may be a selectable service entity, as illustratedin FIG. 20. Selecting the PRM service 2075 from the service guide 2050may present various media content options that are purchasable recordedmedia content, categorized, for example, in media content categoriessuch as music, movies, software, etc. FIG. 21 is a screen diagram of anexample VOD selection screen display 2170 responsive to the userentering the VOD catalog selection 1958 in the example service guide1950 in FIG. 19. A similarly formatted screen may be presented, forexample, if the user selects from the service guide 1950 (in FIG. 19) aPPV selection 1957, or music selection 1959, or software selection 1960.Referring to FIG. 21, the user is presented with a screen display 2111that includes a select button 2176, which provides the user the abilityto rent or purchase the highlighted selection 2173. By pressing theselect button 2176, the user is presented with a user interface screen(not shown) that provides the user with an option to either download(purchase) the selected item for recording and thus for indefinitepersonal possession (i.e. buy), or rent. The PRM service is alsointegrated into the VOD catalog, in one embodiment, as another option(like price). In one implementation, the system operator may choose whatVOD content is available for PRM service and then programs the headend11 accordingly. In another implementation, the content provider mayoffer certain VOD content with PRM service, which is then a featureprovided to the user through the headend 11. Once the user selects thedownload option (not shown), the user will be presented with the examplePRM service screen illustrated in FIG. 23, and which will be describedbelow. Note that the screen display 2111 also includes an informationbutton 2177, which enables the user to learn more about the selectionthey seek to purchase or rent. If the user selects rent, conventionalVOD processing occurs.

[0109] Another segue into the pricing system may be by way of an impulsepurchase made available during the presentation of a particular mediacontent instance. For example, the user may presented with a pop-upmessage anytime during the presentation of a VOD movie or a PPV event,which asks the user if he or she would be interested in purchasing thisevent as PRM content. The pop-up message may occur as an overlay onpresented media content in the display screen, or the media contentpresentation window may narrow to allow the message to appear, or anyother manner to present the message on the display screen.

[0110] Once the user has decided on a media content selection fordownloading, either by entering a selection in an IPG, a service guide,or during the presentation of a particular media content instance aspart of an impulse purchase, the user is presented with an examplepurchase screen 2200, as illustrated in FIG. 22. In one embodiment, thispurchase screen 2200 may be invoked as a mini-program located within thePRM application 477 “called” by another application, for example, duringa VOD session when the user has selected the purchase option over therental option, or during a media content instance presentation from aservice upon the user requesting an impulse buy. Alternatively, PRMapplication 477 functionality may exist as a sub-routine within thecurrent media service application in session. Alternatively, PRMfunctionality may exist as software in the headend 11. Purchase screen2200 includes title header 2201 identifying the media service from whichthe PRM content instance will be purchased. Subtitle header 2202suggests the purpose of the purchase screen 2200, which is to selectdownload and price options. The reduced screen area 2212 displays animage from the media content to be purchased. Assuming that the movieselection was Titanic, a picture of a representative scene for thehighlighted movie may be presented. Similarly, pictures ofrepresentative spreadsheets from a software selected may be displayed,or a picture of a song artist may be displayed for the music selection,all mentioned by way of example. Information section 2210 contains somecharacterizing information about the media content purchase, includingbut not limited to media content title, date of composition, rating,download time, and available purchase window. Content quality index 2220provide the user with content quality options, such as, for example,high definition television or standard definition, surround sound, etc.As with other user interface screens described previously, the userpreferably advances highlighted window 2222 over a window 2224containing the desired content quality by using left scroll arrow 2226or right scroll arrow 2228. Selections preferably advance until an endis reached in the list, or alternatively, selections may “wrap-around”in a manner whereby the selections repeat themselves. Download optionlist 2246 contains download options. The user advances the highlightedlist entry block 2240 over the list entry block 2242 containing thedesired download option by using up arrow 2262 and down arrow 2268, anda corresponding price for that option and content quality is displayedin the price window 2260. The user presses the select button 2264 topurchase the desired selection. The user may select the “B” more movieinformation button 2230 to learn more details about the movie the useris about to purchase. The user may also select the “C” movie purchasesbutton 2232 to return to the main media content screen, for a example,the VOD catalog screen as illustrated in FIG. 21, to consider othermovie purchases.

[0111] The price assigned to each available download option may dependon a number of factors. Demand for a PRM content instance such as fornew releases and popular media content instances may influence pricing.The amount of bandwidth consumed to download the PRM content instance(and hence the download duration), the time of day, the day of the week(weekday, weekend, or holiday), and the amount of time that thesubscriber has to wait until the downloading operation starts alsoinfluence the price. Other factors influencing pricing of a PRM contentinstance include the PRM content type (e.g., audio, movie, or game), thePRM content quality (e.g., CD quality or surround sound quality audio;standard or high-definition picture quality), and the delivery mode(e.g., repossessed VOD excess bandwidth or via BFS services). Forexample, in the example purchase screen 2200 of FIG. 22, the userhighlights an immediate download option, but with a latent durationending an hour from the purchase as noted in download option list 2246.Further, the user has indicated a desire for high definition video withstandard sound as indicated by the highlighted content quality window2222. Price window 2260 shows that the resultant price for this priceconfiguration is $9.99.

[0112]FIG. 23 is a screen diagram that illustrates an example purchasescreen 2300 wherein the user has selected a longer download durationthat encroaches on a traditionally off-peak time for VOD, for example,early morning. An 8:00 AM download is highlighted in download optionlist 2346 with the same content quality as the prior screen. As noted,the price for the purchase, as displayed in price window 2360 decreasessignificantly from the prior highlighted option in FIG. 22. Also notethe increase in the download duration as shown in the informationsection 2310, as the download in this option is allowed to “trickle” tothe requesting DHCT 16. FIG. 24 illustrates an example purchase screen2400 for the same download option as that shown for FIG. 23, but withthe user scrolling to and highlighting in content quality index 2420 astandard definition, standard sound option. The result, as displayed inthe price window 2460, is an even lower price than the high definitionstandard sound option highlighted in the prior purchase screen 2300, dueto the lower bandwidth requirement of standard definition videodownloads when compared to high definition downloads. FIG. 25 is ascreen diagram of an example purchase screen 2500 that illustratesanother download option, wherein the download will not begin until 8:00AM, typically a low demand period for VOD, but it will be immediatestarting at 8:00 AM. FIG. 26 is a screen diagram of an example purchasescreen 2600 that illustrates another download option wherein thedownload begins later, and is of longer duration than the prior downloadoption illustrated in example purchase screen 2500 in FIG. 25.

[0113]FIG. 27 is a screen diagram of an example purchase screen 2700that illustrates the trial purchase option. The purpose of the trialpurchase is to promote “teaser” sales. With reference to FIG. 6 andcontinued reference to FIG. 27, a trial purchase includes the receipt tothe primary storage device 413 (FIG. 4) of the DHCT 16 of an entiremedia content instance, such as but not limited to music, video, orsoftware, and then the subsequent transfer to the secondary storagedevice 414 (FIG. 4) for a limited time period. The secondary storagedevice 414 (FIG. 4) medium, either a CD or DVD, is time stamped forvalid decryption only for a specified time period. The content wouldcontinue to reside on the storage medium but could not be used. Forexample, the downloaded trial purchase may be encrypted in a manner thatallows for the primary storage device 413 to read the decrypted PRMcontent, but is prevented from being downloaded to the secondary storagedevice 414. As time stamping is well known to those having ordinaryskill in the art, further discussion need not be presented. Trialpurchases could be used to promote teaser sales. As with any purchase,parental controls, such as, by way of non-limiting example a PIN entryscreen, would be implemented, as described below.

[0114]FIG. 28 is a screen diagram depicting an example PIN entry window2800 that is presented to the user after the user selects a download andcontent quality selection in one of the prior example purchase screens,such as, for example, example purchase screen 2600 of FIG. 26. A PINEntry window 2800 is employed during the purchase of a PRM contentinstance to authenticate authorization to purchase and exercise parentalcontrol of purchases. The top portion 2810 contains the heading “PINENTRY” while the bottom portion 2820 illustrates relevant navigationbuttons available on the remote control device 480 (FIG. 4). A user canenter his or her PIN using the remote control device 480 (FIG. 4) whilebeing presented with the PIN entry window 2800. Center portion 2830contains entry fields 2840 that display a “*” for every PIN entryreceived from the user. In an alternative embodiment a user is notpresented with a PIN entry screen and is not required to enter a PIN. Inyet another alternative embodiment, a user is only presented with a PINentry screen if the selected download can be achieved. FIG. 29 is ascreen diagram of an example screen display 2900 denying the user frompurchasing the selected content, for example, a VOD selection. FIG. 30is a screen diagram of an example screen display 3000 acknowledging thepurchase of the selection, and providing the user the opportunity toaccept or cancel.

[0115]FIG. 31 is a screen diagram depicting an example barker screen3100 resulting when a particular subscriber request for a PRM contentinstance cannot be fulfilled for lack of available bandwidth or otherreasons. This screen 3100 may be presented after the user makes a PINentry, or alternatively, after the user makes their download and contentselections. Top portion 3151 contains a heading describing the problemto the user, a bottom portion 3152 illustrating relevant navigationbutton(s) available on the remote control device 480 (FIG. 4), and a topcenter portion 3153 which provides the user with a message, for example:“SORRY, PRM SERVICE IS CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE. SELECT AN AVAILABLE OPTIONOR “C” TO CANCEL”. Download option list 3154 provides the user with alist of available download options and their content quality and price.As described earlier, communication occurs between the PRM clientapplication and the PRM application server 319 when content isdownloaded to maintain the status of the download. Errors or abortedattempts at the download of PRM content is thus known at the PRM clientapplication 477, resulting in the generation of the example barkerscreen 3100 of FIG. 31. Alternatively, this screen can be generated atthe headend 11. The PRM client application 477 will also generate thedownload option list 3154 as part of the example barker 311 according tothe mechanisms used to initially generate the download options for thePRM purchase screens, such as example purchase screen 2200 (FIG. 22).The user may use up arrow 3164 or down arrow 3164 to advance thehighlighted window 3166 over the option window 3168 containing thedesired download option. The user may then enter their selection bypressing the select button 3162. Example barker 3100 is sent from thePRM application server 319 (FIG. 3) notifying the subscriber that theirrequest could not be fulfilled. Alternatively, the unavailability of theselected PRM during the selected download times may be communicated bythe PRM application server 319 (FIG. 3) to the PRM client application477 (FIG. 4), wherein the PRM client application 477 (FIG. 4) generatesthis example barker 3100. Alternatively, a screen may be presented suchthat the user is presented with a button to select alternative downloadoptions from the one of the purchase screens described and illustratedabove. Alternatively, a subscriber may be asked to accept a PRM contentinstance over a longer download duration but at the same price as aresult of lack of bandwidth capacity or lack of VOD bandwidthavailability for reuse. Consequently, upon subscriber consent, the PRMapplication server 319 (FIG. 3) employs other available bandwidthcapacity using in-band or out-of-band BFS services or a combinationthereof. Numerous unique combinations of PRM content delivery may beemployed when lacking bandwidth resources.

[0116] Note that the preferred embodiments of the invention are notlimited to flexible information transfer, but include systems wherethere may be limited ways, or only one way, to transfer information.

[0117] The DNCS 323 operating software and the PRM application client477 which comprise an ordered listing of executable instructions forimplementing logical functions, can be embodied in any computer-readablemedium for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system,apparatus, or device, such as a computer-based system,processor-containing system, or other system that can fetch theinstructions from the instruction execution system, apparatus, or deviceand execute the instructions. In the context of this document, a“computer-readable medium” can be any means that can contain, store,communicate, propagate, or transport the program for use by or inconnection with the instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.The computer readable medium can be, for example but not limited to, anelectronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, orsemiconductor system, apparatus, device, or propagation medium. Morespecific examples (a nonexhaustive list) of the computer-readable mediumwould include the following: an electrical connection (electronic)having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette (magnetic), arandom access memory (RAM) (magnetic), a read-only memory (ROM)(magnetic), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flashmemory) (magnetic), an optical fiber (optical), or a portable compactdisc read-only memory (CDROM) (optical). Note that the computer-readablemedium could even be paper or another suitable medium upon which theprogram is printed, as the program can be electronically captured, viafor instance optical scanning of the paper or other medium, thencompiled, interpreted, or otherwise processed in a suitable manner ifnecessary, and then stored in a computer memory.

[0118] It is emphasized that the above-described embodiments of thepresent invention, particularly any “preferred embodiments”, are merelypossible examples of the implementations, among others, that are merelyset forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the invention.It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many modificationsand variations may be made to the embodiments of the present invention,as set forth above, without departing substantially from the principlesof the present invention. All such modifications and variations areintended to be included herein within the scope of the disclosure andpresent invention and protected by the following claims.

[0119] Therefore, having thus described the invention, at least thefollowing is claimed:

What is claimed is:
 1. A recordable media content purchasing systemcomprising: a first memory; and a first processor configured with thefirst memory to download recordable media content at one of a pluralityof various download times for purchase of the recordable media content.2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first processor allocates thebandwidth for transmission of the recordable media content according toa series of recurring schedules that are based on historical bandwidthconsumption.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first processorallocates the bandwidth for transmission of the recordable mediaaccording to a series of pre-configured schedule that are implementedaccording to current bandwidth consumption.
 4. The system of claim 1,wherein the first processor is configured to encrypt the recordablemedia content.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first processordownloads recordable media content at a higher bit rate than thereal-time playback rate of the recordable media content.
 6. The systemof claim 1, wherein the first processor downloads recordable mediacontent at a lower bit rate than the real-time playback rate of therecordable media content.
 7. The system of claim 1, further comprising asecond memory configured for buffering the recordable media content, aprimary storage device in electrical communications with the secondmemory, a secondary storage device in electrical communications with thesecond memory, wherein the secondary storage device is configured tostore the recordable media in one of a plurality of portable mediumsindefinitely, and a second processor configured by the second memory toprovide a user interface to a user, wherein the user interface presentsa variable price structure and a variable download structure for thepurchase of recordable media based on the variable download rates andthe variable download times allocated by the first processor, whereinthe second processor is further configured to communicate the userrequest for recordable media to the first processor, wherein the secondprocessor is further configured to receive the recordable media from thefirst processor, wherein the second processor is further configured totransfer the recordable media between the second memory and the primarystorage device for storage in one of the plurality of portable mediumsin the secondary storage device.
 8. The system of claim 7, wherein thefirst processor is configured to authorize the transmission of therecordable media content to the second processor.
 9. The system of claim7, wherein the first processor receives download option requests andprice option requests for the recordable media content from the secondprocessor wherein the download option and the price option requests areselected by the user at the user interface.
 10. The system of claim 7,wherein the first processor is in electrical communication with an ondemand server.
 11. The system of claim 10, wherein the first processordownloads recordable media content through the on demand server duringpeak bandwidth use based on the user demand for immediate download at apremium purchase price.
 12. The system of claim 10, wherein the firstprocessor downloads recordable media content through the on demandserver during peak bandwidth use based on the user demand for anextended download duration at a reduced purchase price.
 13. The systemof claim 10, wherein the first processor downloads recordable mediacontent through the on demand server during repossessed unused bandwidthintended for on-demand services.
 14. The system of claim 10, wherein therepossessed unused bandwidth includes off peak bandwidth use.
 15. Thesystem of claim 14, wherein the first processor downloads recordablemedia content through the on demand server during off repossessed unusedbandwidth use based on the user demand for immediate download at areduced purchase price.
 16. The system of claim 14, wherein the firstprocessor downloads recordable media content through the on demandserver during repossessed unused bandwidth use based on the user demandfor an extended download duration at a reduced purchase price.
 17. Thesystem of claim 14, wherein the first processor downloads recordablemedia content through the on demand server during repossessed unusedbandwidth use based on the user demand during peak bandwidth use for adelayed download that commences during the off peak bandwidth use forimmediate download during the off-peak bandwidth use at a reducedpurchase price.
 18. The system of claim 14, wherein the first processordownloads recordable media content through the on demand server duringrepossessed unused bandwidth use based on the user demand during peakbandwidth use for a delayed download that commences during the off-peakbandwidth use for an extended download duration during the off-peakbandwidth use at a reduced purchase price.
 19. The system of claim 1,wherein the first processor is in electrical communication with abroadcast file system server.
 20. The system of claim 19, wherein thefirst processor stores recordable media in high demand in the broadcastfile system server.
 21. The system of claim 19, wherein the firstprocessor stores new releases of recordable media in the broadcast filesystem server.
 22. The system of claim 19, wherein the first processordownloads recordable media through the broadcast file system server. 23.The system of claim 19, wherein the first processor downloads recordablemedia through the broadcast file system server during periods of unusedbandwidth of the broadcast file system server.
 24. The system of claim19, wherein the periods of unused bandwidth of the broadcast file systemserver include off-peak periods.
 25. The system of claim 7, furthercomprising a printer, wherein the printer is configured to print labelsthat verify purchase and authenticity of recordable media content thatis stored on one of the plurality of mediums located in the secondarystorage device.
 26. The system of claim 7, wherein the primary storagedevice comprises fast seek time and high data transfer ratecharacteristics.
 27. The system of claim 7, wherein the primary storagedevice comprises a hard disk drive.
 28. The system of claim 7, whereinthe secondary storage device comprises portable media discs.
 29. Thesystem of claim 7, wherein the secondary storage device comprises acompact disc drive with write capability.
 30. The system of claim 7,wherein the secondary storage device comprises a multiple compact disccarousel drive with write capability.
 31. The system of claim 7, whereinthe secondary storage device comprises digital video disc drive withwrite capability.
 32. The system of claim 7, wherein the secondarystorage device comprises a multiple digital video disc carousel drivewith write capability.
 33. The system of claim 7, wherein the secondprocessor is configured to decrypt encrypted recordable media content.34. The system of claim 7, wherein the request for the recordable mediacontent occurs through an out of band transmission channel.
 35. Thesystem of claim 7, wherein the user interface enables the user torequest an immediate download of the recordable media content at a highbit rate.
 36. The system of claim 7, wherein the user interface enablesthe user to request a download of the recordable media content at a lowbit rate.
 37. The system of claim 7, wherein the user interface enablesthe user to request a delayed download of the recordable media contentat a high bit rate.
 38. The system of claim 7, wherein the userinterface enables the user to request a delayed download of therecordable media content at a low bit rate.
 39. The system of claim 7,wherein the user interface enables the user to select from a pluralityof quality content options for the downloaded recordable media content.40. The system of claim 7, wherein the user interface is configured as aplurality of recordable media content purchase screens.
 41. The systemof claim 40, wherein the recordable media content purchase screensenable the user to select from a plurality of download options andpricing options.
 42. The system of claim 41, wherein the pricing optionsdepend on factors selected from a group consisting of: user demand for aPRM title, bandwidth consumed to download the PRM title, the time ofday, the day of the week, the time period the user has to wait for thecommencement of the transmission, the time period the user has to waitfor the completion of the transmission, PRM content type, the PRMcontent quality, and the delivery mode.
 43. The system of claim 42,wherein the recordable media content purchase screens are configured tooffer these at least one of the factors as pre-configured options. 44.The system of claim 43, wherein at least one of the recordable mediacontent purchase screens is invoked through an interactive programguide.
 45. The system of claim 44, wherein the recordable media contentis represented as an icon in the interactive program guide as part of asubscriber network service.
 46. The system of claim 43, wherein therecordable media content purchase screen is invoked through a serviceguide.
 47. The system of claim 46, wherein the recordable media contentis represented as an icon in the service guide as part of a subscribernetwork service.
 48. The system of claim 46, wherein the recordablemedia content is available as a separate service entity within theservice guide.
 49. The system of claim 41, wherein the recordable mediacontent purchase screen is invoked as an impulse purchase from within asubscriber network application.
 50. The system of claim 41, wherein therecordable media content purchase screen is invoked within a subscribernetwork application.
 51. The system of claim 41, wherein the recordablemedia content purchase screens are configured to offer a trial purchase.52. The system of claim 52, wherein at least one of the secondarystorage portable mediums is configured for valid decryption of encryptedtrial purchase recordable media content for a specified trial period.53. The system of claim 41, wherein the recordable media contentpurchase screens further include an unavailable recordable media contentscreen invoked when the recordable media content selection isunavailable.
 54. The system of claim 53, wherein the unavailablerecordable media content screen further includes alternative purchaseoptions and alternative download options.
 55. The system of claim 41,wherein the recordable media content purchase screen further includes apin authorization screen.
 56. The system of claim 7, wherein the secondprocessor is configured to receive user input from a remote device. 57.The system of claim 7, wherein the second processor is configured torecord the purchase transaction in the second memory.
 58. The system ofclaim 57, wherein the second processor is configured to communicate thepurchase transaction to the first processor.
 59. The system of claim 58,wherein the communication is sent through the out of band channel. 60.The system of claim 57, wherein the first processor periodically pollsthe second memory to collect the purchase transaction information. 61.The system of claim 60, wherein the first processor automatically debitsthe user's account for the purchase transaction.
 62. The system of claim1, wherein the first processor is further configured to bill the userfor the purchase of the recordable media content.
 63. A recordable mediacontent purchasing method comprising the steps of: receiving a userrequest for purchase of recordable media content; and downloading therequested recordable media content at one of a plurality of variousdownload times for purchase of the recordable media content.
 64. Themethod of claim 63, further comprising the step of providing a userinterface for the use to request the recordable media content.
 65. Themethod of claim 63, further comprising the step of providing therecordable media content from one of a plurality of on demand servers.66. The method of claim 65, further comprising the step of selecting theon demand server that is unused and available for downloading.
 67. Themethod of claim 65, further comprising the step of selecting thedownload option based on a plurality of schedule options.
 68. The methodof claim 65, further comprising the step of downloading the recordablemedia content immediately.
 69. The method of claim 65, furthercomprising the step of downloading the recordable media content withlatency.
 70. The method of claim 65, further comprising the step ofpricing the downloaded media content based on the availability of the ondemand server and bandwidth use.
 71. The method of claim 63, furthercomprising the step of offering a trial purchase.
 72. The method ofclaim 63, further comprising the step of offering an impulse purchase.73. The method of claim 63, further comprising the step of providing thedownloaded media content at a variable bit rate.
 74. The method of claim63, further comprising the step of repossessing the off-peak bandwidthfor downloading the media content.